Greeks | Romans | Greek city-states were separated from one another by countryside; all surrounding water. | Rome was inland on one side of the Tiber river. The Italic tribes did not have hills of the countryside to keep them out of Rome. | Most Greek buildings were made with mud, wood, plaster, and stone. These buildings did not stand over long periods of time. Save for the textures of marble and limestone they used to construct their temples which some still remain. | Romans used too marble and limestone in the construction of their buildings, but their greatest contribution was the perfection of the use of concrete. The strong, but light-weight material allowed them to larger and freer flowing structures. | Most of the remaining Greek structures are temples built to honor both their art and their gods. While decorative on the outside they were very plain within. Greek architecture was more rectilinear. This usually consisted of a pediment supported by columns set on a plinth for base. | More Roman structures stand today greatly due to their advancement in material technology. Roman structures were both decorative on both the inside and outside to reflect the pursuit of pleasure which was an essential part of Roman culture. Roman buildings were more complex, as they are credited with the mastering of the arch and dome type constructions, made possible by their skills with concrete. | Classical Greek sculptures are idealized from the human form, focusing on balance, symmetry and physical beauty. Greek red and black figure pottery was decorated with scenes from myth and legend. | Roman sculpture began as funerary portrait busts, emphasizing a realistic view of the subject while incorporating the technical innovations of Greek tradition. Roman pottery was primarily made and decorated in the terra sigillata style. | Greek religion was a predominant form of